The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:
(EVANSVILLE, Ind.) — The U.S. Coast Guard and local authorities responded to a report of an oil spill in Evansville, Thursday, at the USS LST-325 Ship Memorial.
The National Response Center notified the Coast Guard of an oil sheen on the Ohio River that was intially reported by the crew of the LST-325 at 10:55 a.m., Central Standard Time. The source of the oil reportedly originated from an internal storage tank on the vessel.
Summit Environmental Services was contracted to manage the cleanup and recovery operation. Summit deployed various resources including a shallow-draft vessel, absorbent pads and containment boom to contain and clean up the spill.
By the end of operations, Thursday, the source of the spill had been contained, and all petroleum product from the suspected tank had been transferred to another storage tank on the vessel.
Operations to clean the tank are scheduled to begin Friday.
The cause of the incident is under investigation.
